The Grinning Devil!

Evans pov

After walking for a long time, I finally saw a shop where many laborers were working. They were carrying sacks and helping them in loading in carriages.

"Do you need more labor, kind sir?" I asked and the man looked at me from tip to toe.

"Only 10 bronze coins and food will be given" he replied in a strict tone and I nodded.

"Go and fill that last empty cart to make sure you work equally like others." said the man as he pointed at the last carriage, and I ran to carry the luggage to the cart.

It took me hours as the luggage was heavy and the ground was still slippery due to last night's rain. But when it ended all my hard work has paid off as I received sufficient food and some money to spend in an inn to spend the night. Though I would have liked to save money and sleep in the open, that uneasy feeling was not going.

As if someone was keeping an eye on me. I could not take the risk of getting caught again as I knew that my body was reaching its limits.

I took the money and asked a girl about the nearest inn and thanked her for help.

I turned so many times while I was walking yet I found no one behind me, yet the unnerving feeling did not go away.

"Relax Evans, if she would have been following you, she would have caught you. She would not be hiding from you." Only this thought kept me sane. Still I took a sigh of relief when I reached the inn.

"I need a room." I asked the young girl who was munching sunflower seeds while reading a book in her hands.

"Ah! You scared me!" she replied as she looked out. It was later than midnight and she must not be expecting a guest. Then her eyes roamed on my bare chest and she blushed.

"It is 5 bronze coins." she replied a bit flustered as she kept looking at the other side yet stealing glances of me. I could only bear the embarrassment as I did not have any other choice. I did not have money to spare on clothes yet.

"Isn't 5 coins too much!? I only have three coins for now." I moved closer to the counter and made a helpless face. She looked at me and bit her lips.

"But father will be angry if he comes to know that I have given you a discount." she replied as she fidgeted with her dress. I did not want her to be in trouble because of me so I was about to accept the offer when she replied first.

"If you did not tell anyone, then I may hide it too." she replied with a smile again as she tucked a strand of her hair which kept falling on her face.

"You are very kind, my lady. Thank you." I bowed my head a bit and once again her face turned a darker shade of red.

"This way please" she took me into a room near the window and I thanked her as I looked at the cozy bed.

"No.. problem! If you need anything, you can come to the reception. I will stay there all night." it was not that i did not understand what she wanted to say! I just wanted to play dumb as i was not interested in corrupting an innocent soul.

"I will keep that in mind. But first i need a bath and some rest.`` I replied, maintaining the same smile on my face.

"Ahh.. then.. Then I will be going." she replied flustered and left. Only then did I take a breath of relief as I closed the door.

I walked to the adjacent washroom which was so small that it hardly had a place to stand comfortably but at least the water was warm. After taking a quick bath, I laid on the bed to think about my future. Just a week ago or so, I was living my life happily. Though I was poor, I had work in Medbay and I have a small place to live.

But now my friend has sold that place and I could not go to work because some crazy people are searching for me to make me a slave. The bed was warm and cozy, it relaxed my muscles and I did not even realize when my eyes turned heavy. All I felt was numbness over my skin and darkness holding me in its arms.

"Did you have a good sleep, evans?" I heard a sweet voice as if the nightingale was chirping near my ears. It was so close as if she was sitting on my bed. Yet it felt so soothing.

"Mmmm '' I replied with a smile as I turned on the bed only to fall on the ground badly.

"Ouch" i rubbed my cheeks that hit the ground. My eyes were still filled with sleep but I rubbed them to look around.

When I opened my eyes, my eyes flushed with the bright sunlight and it took a minute to get adjusted. But there was something wrong. Was I dizzy? Because I felt that the floor was moving. I even felt a bump.

When my eyes finally opened, I saw that I was not in my room but in the carriage. And I was sleeping on the narrow seat. I formed and looked around only to see that I was in the same carriage that took me from the slave establishment and in front of me was sitting The Devil with a grinning face.